Apparatus for lifting objects with off-center necks

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for automatically lifting and handling objects having offcenter neck portions such as bottles or other containers. A cylindrical housing has an inwardly directed annular ridge at its lower end. A horizontal disc is suspended at the lower end of a spring rod which is fixed at its upper end relative to said housing. The disc is positioned inwardly of the ridge and with said ridge defines an annular opening concentric with the housing and the disc. Because the neck of the bottle or container is container radially outwardly of the bottle center the same distance the annular opening is located from the housing center, the neck is gripped between the disc and the ridge no matter in what random orientation the neck is located. The rod resiliently and yieldably maintains the disc biased toward the center of said housing thus gripping the neck. A cylindrical ejector plunger is movable downwardly between said ridge and disc and concentrically thereof to eject the bottle from the housing.

Elite States Patent [72] inventor Carlton S. Sprague Huntington, Ind. [2]] Appl. No. 765,249 [22] Filed Oct. 4, 1968 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Shuttleworth Machinery Corp Huntington, Ind.

[54] APPARATUS FOR LIFTING OBJECTS WITH OFF- CENTER NECKS 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 294/33, 294/872, 294/99 R, 294/103 R [51] Int. Cl B66c l/66 [50] Field 01 Search 214/1 B, 309; 294/16, 27, 28, 31, 31 A, 33, 67, 67.2, 67.2 A, 67.2 C, 67.3, 67.4 B, 87, 87.2, 87.22, 87.24, 87.26, 87.28, 86.12, 90,103,104

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 689,694 12/1901 Snow et a1. 294/8724 1,429,093 9/1922 Paranteau 198/144 1,512,411 10 1924 Farrier 294/90 x 1,645,461 10/1927 Stafford... 294/8612 2,400,542 5/1946 Davis 294/8722 X 2,404,625 7/1946 Druhot 294/8722 Milli/1110111111..

Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerW. Scott Carson Attorney-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton ABSTRACT: Apparatus for automatically lifting and handling objects having ofi'center neck portions such as bottles or other containers. A cylindrical housing has an inwardly directed annular ridge at its lower end. A horizontal disc is suspended at the lower end of a spring rod which is fixed at its upper end relative to said housing. The disc is positioned inwardly of the ridge and with said ridge defines an annular opening concentric with the housing and the disc. Because the neck of the bottle or container is container radially outwardly of the bottle center the same distance the annular opening is located from the housing center, the neck is gripped between the disc and the ridge no matter in what random orientation the neck is located. The rod resiliently and yieldably maintains the disc biased toward the center of said housing thus gripping the neck. A cylindrical ejector plunger is movable downwardly between said ridge and disc and concentrically thereof to eject the bottle from the housing.

I PATENTED SEP] 4 um INVENTOR. CARLTON S. SPRAGUE BY MMM Attorneys APPARATUS FOR LIFTING OBJECTS WITH OFF- CENTER NECKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for automatically handling objects, particularly objects such as bottles or other types of containers having an oficenter neck portion and which approach the apparatus in a random arrangement.

Description of the Prior Art Various types of apparatus have been conceived for handling objects and packing objects in boxes. They have not been satisfactory in all respects. For example, apparatus which requires the use of vacuum cups to hold objects during lifting and moving have certain shortcomings. Horizontal movement in particular tends to cause the objects to shake loose. Moreover, objects of more unusual or exotic configuration present special problems for the known apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention solves those problems. Objects are grasped firmly and held securely during lifting and moving. Horizontal movement will not cause the object to be released or loosened. The relative positions of the objects as they approach the apparatus is immaterial.

The apparatus permits objects to be handled automatically and rapidly. Simple adjustments can be made in order to accommodate different types, sizes and shapes of objects. The apparatus is inexpensive, durable and free from complex structure and controls. The apparatus of this invention is capable of grasping an object, lifting it, moving it in any desired direction, lowering it, and releasing it. This invention is particularly useful in automatic case packing equipment. An automatic case packer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,386,224.

One embodiment of the apparatus might include a generally cylindrical housing having an open end and means at the other end for attaching the housing to an automatic case packing apparatus. A ridge is attached to the inside of the housing adjacent to the open end. The ridge is tapered downwardly and away from the center of the housing. Plate supporting means, such as a rod, extends into the housing and down the center thereof. A plate member is attached to the lower end of the plate supporting means adjacent to the open end of the housing and in approximately the same plane as the ridge. The plate member is generally circular in outline and is tapered downwardly and toward the center of the housing. The plate member is flexible in that it can be moved slightly in any direction generally radially toward the ridge. It is biased toward the center of the housing. A generally cylindrical shaped plunger is movable downwardly between the plate member and the ridge so that it can contact an object which may be held between the plate member and ridge and push it downwardly to release it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention and its operation and advantages will be more readily understood from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, partially broken away, with the offcenter neck of a container being held thereby;

FIG. 2 is a breakaway view of the apparatus and container shown in FIG.1, but from a different position;

FIG. 3 is another partial breakaway view of the apparatus and container shown in F 168. 1 and 2 in yet another position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus with the offcenter neck of a container in a nonengaged position; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus engaging the offcenter neck of a container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the apparatus designated generally as 10 includes a cylindrical housing 11 having an open end 12. A cross bar 13 having openings 14 therein constitutes means for attaching the housing 11 to an automatic case packing apparatus. A ridge 15 is attached to the inside of housing 11 adjacent to its open end 12. Ridge 15 is attached to housing 11 by screws 16. Additional openings 17 are provided in housing 1 l to permit ridge 15 to be placed in different positions in order to accommodate objects of difierent sizes and shapes. Ridge 15 has a tapered surface 18 which is tapered downwardly and away from the center of housing 11.

A plate supporting means, such as spring rod 20, extends into and down the center of housing 11. Rod 20 is fixed in a desired position by a screw 21 in center housing 22. A plate member 23 is attached to the lower end of rod 20, adjacent to open end 12 of housing 11, and in approximately the same plane as ridge 15. Plate member 23 is generally circular in outline and has a tapered surface 24 which is tapered downwardly and toward the center of housing 11. Plate member 23 is frustoconical and in the embodiment shown has an essentially flat, circular bottom portion 25. Plate member 23 is flexibly held, but biased toward the center of housing 11. Plate member 23 is slightly movable in any direction generally radially toward ridge 15.

A plunger 26 has a generally cylindrical portion 27 and a guide portion 28. Guide portion 28 movably surrounds center housing 22. A plunger rod 29 is connected to plunger 26 and to plunger control means (not shown). Plunger 26 will be moved downwardly when plunger rod 29 moves downwardly in response to a signal from the plunger control means. The speed and force of movement of plunger 26 can be controlled by adjustments in the plunger control means.

As illustrated in the drawings, an object, such as bottle 35 having an offcenter neck 36, may be engaged and held by apparatus 10. While being so held, the apparatus 10 can be moved in any desired direction to any desired place. When apparatus 10 is in a desired position, the plunger rod 29 and plunger 26 are caused to descend, thus contacting the object and pushing it downwardly with sufficient force to free it.

When it is desired to automatically load or unload objects from cases, as is done by case packing equipment, special problems are presented by objects such as bottles and containers which have offcenter necks. Normally, case packing equipment is designed to lift and lower a number of objects simultaneously during each operation. For example, a case of bottles may be placed under the case packing apparatus for pickup and movement to and placement in a carton which is to be sealed and shipped. Where the bottles have offcenter necks, they most often approach the case packing apparatus with their necks in random positions. It is impractical and costly to rearrange each bottle so that all are aligned in a proper position for pickup. The present invention provides apparatus which will pickup the bottles regardless of the position of their necks. In other words, the bottle may be rotated through a full 360 without in any way impeding operation of the apparatus.

A bottle, such as bottle 35, is positioned under housing 11. Preferably, bottle 35 and housing 11 are coaxially aligned. Housing 11 is lowered and neck 36 enters its open end 12. Regardless of the position of neck 36, it will be directed between ridge 15 and plate member 23. Tapered surfaces 18 and 24 guide neck 36 into position between ridge l5 and plate member 23 under the force of the descending housing 11. As housing 11 continues to descend, plate member 23 moves radially away from neck 36. As soon as a ridge of neck 36, or any cap or stopper therein, passes beyond the upper surface of ridge 15 and plate member 23, plate member 23, according to its center bias, returns to or toward the center of housing 11. The neck 36, or its cap or stopper, is thus firmly held between ridge 15 and plate member 23. Housing 11 can then be lifted and moved about, carrying bottle 35 with it. When in a desired osition, housing 11 is lowered and plunger am 29 is activated. Plunger 26 moves downwardly and its cylindrical portion 27 contacts the top of neck 36 (or any cap or stopper therein). Plunger 27 continues to move downwardly until the force exerted between plate member 23 and ridge 15 is overcome. Bottle 35 is thus released. Housing 11 then can rise and the operation can be repeated.

The housing 11, ridge l5 and plate member 23 may be constructed of plastic, rubber, steel or other materials. It is important that the materials used, and the forces employed, be such as will not break or damage the object to be handled. Naturally, glass objects would indicate using softer materials and the minimal forces necessary to firmly hold and properly release the objects.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference being made to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically handling objects having offcenter neck portions comprising a housing having an open end, a ridge within said housing adjacent to said open end, a central member flexibly positioned within said housing adjacent to said open end, said ridge and said central member being adapted to receive and hold therebetween a portion of an object, said ridge and central member being of essentially circular outline and concentric about an axis so as to define therebetween an annular opening concentric with said ridge and central member and adapted to receive said offcenter neck portions no matter in what position they are oriented throughout 360 around said axis, said central member and said housing being the exclusive receiving and holding means for an object, and means for releasing an object held between said ridge and said central member said central member being a plate coplanar with said ridge and suspended from a spring rod, said plate being spaced a first distance from said ridge, said spring rod being sufficiently flexible to permit separation of said plate from said ridge to pass said neck portions therebetween and for said first distance to increase, said spring rod being sufficiently resilient to cause said plate to engage said neck portions with enough force to lift said object.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexible central member is biased toward the center of said housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for releasing an object comprises a plunger adapted to contact and push the object toward said open end of said housing.

4. Apparatus for automatically handling objects comprising a housing having an open end, a ridge within said housing adjacent to said open end, a plate member flexibly positioned within said housing adjacent to said open end, said ridge and said plate member being adapted to receive and hold therebetween a portion of an object, means for releasing an object held between said ridge and said plate member, said ridge being tapered downwardly and outwardly away from the center of said housing and said plate member is tapered downwardly and inwardly toward the center of said housing, said ridge and said plate member being essentially of circular outline and concentric, said means for releasing an object comprising a plunger of generally circular outline concentric with and between said ridge and said plate member and adapted to contact said object and push it beyond said ridge and said plate member.

5. An improved head for holding objects and which is used in an automatic case packing apparatus, said head comprising a generally cylindrical housing having an open end, means for attaching said housing to the automatic case packing apparatus, a ridge attached to the inside of said housing adjacent to said open end, said ridge being tapered downwardly and away from the center of said housing, plate supporting means extending into said housing and down the center thereof, a plate member ad acent to said open end of said housing and supported from said supporting means, said plate member being slightly movable in any direction generally radially toward said ridge and being tapered downwardly and toward the center of said housing, a generally cylindrical plunger, said ridge, said plunger and said plate member being concentric, and means for moving said plunger between said ridge and said plate member.

6. The invention of claim 5 with the addition of means for raising and lowering said plate supporting means.

7. The invention of claim 5 wherein said ridge may be raised or lowered within said housing.

8. The invention of claim 5, wherein said ridge, said plate supporting means and said plate may be individually replaced in order to accommodate objects of different sizes. 

1. Apparatus for automatically handling objects having offcenter neck portions comprising a housing having an open end, a ridge within said housing adjacent to said open end, a central member flexibly positioned within said housing adjacent to said open end, said ridge and said central member being adapted to receive and hold therebetween a portion of an object, said ridge and central member being of essentially circular outline and concentric about an axis so as to define therebetween an annular opening concentric with said ridge and central member and adapted to receive said offcenter neck portions no matter in what position they are oriented throughout 360* around said axis, said central member and said housing being the exclusive receiving and holding means for an object, and means for releasing an object held between said ridge and said central member said central member being a plate coplanar with said ridge and suspended from a spring rod, said plate being spaced a first distance from saId ridge, said spring rod being sufficiently flexible to permit separation of said plate from said ridge to pass said neck portions therebetween and for said first distance to increase, said spring rod being sufficiently resilient to cause said plate to engage said neck portions with enough force to lift said object.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexible central member is biased toward the center of said housing.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for releasing an object comprises a plunger adapted to contact and push the object toward said open end of said housing.
 4. Apparatus for automatically handling objects comprising a housing having an open end, a ridge within said housing adjacent to said open end, a plate member flexibly positioned within said housing adjacent to said open end, said ridge and said plate member being adapted to receive and hold therebetween a portion of an object, means for releasing an object held between said ridge and said plate member, said ridge being tapered downwardly and outwardly away from the center of said housing and said plate member is tapered downwardly and inwardly toward the center of said housing, said ridge and said plate member being essentially of circular outline and concentric, said means for releasing an object comprising a plunger of generally circular outline concentric with and between said ridge and said plate member and adapted to contact said object and push it beyond said ridge and said plate member.
 5. An improved head for holding objects and which is used in an automatic case packing apparatus, said head comprising a generally cylindrical housing having an open end, means for attaching said housing to the automatic case packing apparatus, a ridge attached to the inside of said housing adjacent to said open end, said ridge being tapered downwardly and away from the center of said housing, plate supporting means extending into said housing and down the center thereof, a plate member adjacent to said open end of said housing and supported from said supporting means, said plate member being slightly movable in any direction generally radially toward said ridge and being tapered downwardly and toward the center of said housing, a generally cylindrical plunger, said ridge, said plunger and said plate member being concentric, and means for moving said plunger between said ridge and said plate member.
 6. The invention of claim 5 with the addition of means for raising and lowering said plate supporting means.
 7. The invention of claim 5 wherein said ridge may be raised or lowered within said housing.
 8. The invention of claim 5, wherein said ridge, said plate supporting means and said plate may be individually replaced in order to accommodate objects of different sizes. 